The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 86

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 86

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Waukesha Democrat-The first purely local paper Waukesha County ever had, started as a business venture, and with an idea of permanency, was the Democrat, founded by George Hyer July 20, 1848. Mr. Hyer was a man of ability and came with an experience in the publishing business extending over a period of fifteen years. His paper was Democratic in politics, and was able, eloquent and dignified rather than radical or rabid. Although Mr. Hyer made the paper pay as well as any one could, it was not a great financial success, though a large share of the people then living in the county, who were able to do so, patronized it. He sold the office in July, 1851, to Henry D. Barron, and gave up possession in August. Mr. Hyer was one of the ablest editors in Wisconsin, and, while he resided in Waukesha, did all he could for the county. Mr. Barron continued the Democrat until 1853, when he changed it to the Chronotype.

The first number of the Democrat under Mr. Hyer, supported Cass and Butler for President. and Vice President, but he said : " When the principles of the Wilmot Proviso shall divide the North and South, as it will probably soon do, we shall take that stand which a free and liberal education has inculcated in the mind of every citizen of the Free States."

Waukesha Chronotype-In August, 1851, the Democrat was sold to H. D. Barron, who changed its name to the Chronotype. The history of the paper is told in the following letter from Henry D. Barron, now a resident of St. Croix Falls, Wis .:

"There was to me, in boyhood, a charm and attraction about type and press that no other oc- cupation, profession or business presented. There was a grand, great mystery there that cre- ated an awe, a curiosity that is yet fresh in memory. I remember well slipping into printing offices on my way to and from school, to see type gathered by nimble fingers from case to stick, and at times to see the old hand press strike off the Balston Spa Gazette, the Saratoga Sentinel, in Eastern New York, and after that the Cayuga Patriot and Cayuga Tocsin, in Western New York. It seemed to me that my dream of ambition would be full when I could become a printer and an editor. And had not Franklin, who was sage, philosopher and patriot of the New World, and the associate of kings and scholars in the Old World, been a printer's apprentice ? I drifted to the type-case and press at the age of fourteen. When I came to Wisconsin, newspapers were few, and newspaper publishers had to struggle for an existence. I succeeded in the purchase of a press at Waukesha in this State, twenty-five years ago. I picked up my type and worked press, because I preferred it to all else, and from August, 1851, to June, 1857, at Waukesha, in this State, tried to be a respectable and well-behaved printer and editor.

" I came to Waukesha when I was nineteen years of age, with Edward H. Baxter, an En- glishman, and a printer by trade. He was about twenty-five years old. I had worked at print- ing about three years, and read law at Auhurn, N. Y., and at the law school at Balston Spa, in that State. We started together from Auburn for Wisconsin, and Wisconsin only, to purchase or establish a newspaper. We found a split in the Democratic party at Waukesha, and dissatis- faction with George Hyer, the editor and proprietor of the Waukesha Democrat, upon the

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

part of our faction. After a week's negotiation, we bought him out in the month of August, 1851. We paid him $600 (as much as $1,200 now), for old type, old press and material worth, in all, about $200. The balance of the $600, I suppose, was for 'good will' and sub- scriptions due, but never colle cted, a failure which was not his fault. Silas Chapman, of Mil- waukee, 'trusted' us for some new type. In three months, Mr. Baxter, a most changeable man, got weary, and I bought him out 'on time,' and afterward paid for his half out of the proceeds of the office. The $600 paid Hyer exhausted the amount we brought with us-all we had in the world-the proceeds of work at the type-case and press.

" The only paper preceding this Democrat was the Freeman, the old type of which came to us from Mr. Hyer. In 1853, I was appointed Postmaster at Waukesha by President Pierce, and changed the name of the Democrat to that of Chronotype-the name of a radical paper that I admired very much, though I was a Democrat, once published in Boston by Elizur Wright. In 1857, I think, 'falling out' with 'Barstow and the balance'-not agreeing with the dicta- torial spirit of the friends of Barstow, I proposed a sale to them of the paper. They purchased it, paying me, I think, $1,200. In the mean time, a paper had been established in Waukesha, called the Waukesha Independent Press, by C. C. White and I. M. Bean, to the columns of which the boy, 'Cush Davis,' now 'ex-Gov. Davis,' of Minnesota, contributed. Dominick Casey followed the Press with a paper called the Waukesha Democrat. It was bitterly personal.

"When we purchased of Hyer, the Democrat was located in a wooden, cheap building, owned by J. M. Hurlbut, brother of E. Hurlbut, of Oconomowoc, over his paint-shop, next to the stone drug store of Zerrye Hatch, near Barker's Hotel. I afterward moved it into Cutler's building, over the post office, opposite Birchard, Newton & Totton's store. (My brother-in- law, Capt. Andrew G. Bennett, had charge of the post office for me, as clerk.)

" The foregoing contains much that will be, no doubt, of no value. I have written it down as occurring to me."

Waukesha County Herald .- This paper is not remembered with feelings of pleasure by its projectors and managers. The Whigs of the county thought they needed an organ, and they banded together for the purchase of material necessary in publishing a paper. Stock was taken at $10 per share, and a person named Ezekiel Stoddard was engaged to do the editing and printing. A few prominent men, among them Talbot C. Dousman, were the responsible officers of the concern. The paper had been published only a short time when all at once, editor, presses and type were missing. Where either of them were might have always remained a mystery if Andrew E. Elmore, while on the way to Madison with a reprieve for David Bonham, the murderer of Keene, had not, in poking about on a cold night in the fall of 1845, for somo straw, found the type concealed in a barn in Waukesha Village. This material thus found, a few years later, went into A. F. Pratt's first' printing office. The debts contracted by the Herald were sued and the Sheriff collected them, with costs, of Mr. Dousman and one or two others. They have never since entered into the publishing business on the joint-stock plan.

Independent Press .- This paper, which was short-lived and devoted wholly to the local in- terests at Waukesha, was started in 1853, by C. C. White and Sidney A. Bean. It was edited in the most elegant and finished literary style, as its editors and contributors were gentlemen of ability and polish. Its life was short, lasting hardly a single year. The last number was issued in March, 1854, after which the material was bought by Dominick Casey.

Waukesha Republican .- This was the first Republican newspaper printed in Waukesha County. It was started August 6, 1856, by W. D. Bacon, at Waukesha, as a county campaign paper. He, as Chairman of the Republican County Committee, continued its publication until the middle of November, of that year. The subscription list was, some time later, given to Curtis & Emmerson, who continued the paper under the same name. The Republican was an exceedingly good newspaper, but never paid its publishers any large dividends. Finally, early in 1859; the office outfit was sold under chattel mortgage to the Milwaukee type foundry. This mortgage took with it the last remains of at least three different papers which had preceded it.

Waukesha Plaindealer .- During many years, the Plaindealer was one of the excellent, as

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

well as one of the leading, representatives of the fearless, wide-awake and withal able, Western weekly newspapers. It was the Democratic child of a Democratic father. It was begun by A. F. Pratt and lived but a short time after his head and hand had forever ceased to guide it. The first number, with the motto, "Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may," was issued in July, 1854, on the old Herald material. It took at once a leading part in politics, and never failed to have something to say upon every subject before the people, and soon had a large circulation. In the spring of 1856, the Plaindealer office, with its entire contents-files, type and valuable papers-was destroyed by fire. The publication of the paper was not then revived, Mr. Pratt entering into other business, and, soon after-the breaking-out of the Rebellion, entering the army. At the close of the war, he again began the publication of the Plaindealer, issuing the first num- ber July 25, 1865. It was a seven-column folio, and as spicy a sheet as A. F. Pratt could make it. His opening announcement was this :

" The proper object of a newspaper is to disseminate information as to all matters of local and public interest, to the end that the people may more fully appreciate their relations to their neighbors, and to the government under which they live.

"Not forgetting this general duty, it shall be our chief purpose, in publishing the Plain- dealer, to advance the local interests of Waukesha County, and, to the full extent of our influence as a journalist, contribute to the prosperity of all its citizens, regardless of partisan and religious distinctions. In this manner, we hope to make our paper an acceptable visitor at every family fireside, and to insure for it the generous patronage and active friendship of every good citizen.

"We profess no blind allegiance to any political party, but it would be impossible, as well a positive disregard of duty, to wholly avoid a fair and candid discussion of the many political questions now prominent in the public mind. But in doing this, we shall eulogize no man unless we think him worthy of the confidence of the people, and we shall support no measure which we do not believe conducive to the public good. Slavery to party and the passions of party are the fruitful source of many of the gigantic evils which have afflicted the country during the past five years. In view of the experience of the past, men should now act honestly, candidly and wisely. If the bitter and destructive war through which we have passed has not taught us this lesson, we have learned nothing of which we can boast.

"Through the undaunted bravery and invincible courage of our citizen soldiery, the armed enemies of the Government have been crushed and the Union of our fathers is preserved. It remains to us now to defend that Government from the future dangers with which partisan fac - tions may threaten it, to invigorate with new life the restored form of the old Union, and to cultivate that spirit of fraternity and concord among the American people which furnishes the only certain guarantee of a permanent and prosperous peace. We believe such to be the present object of the President of the United States [Andrew Johnson], and so long as that faith is sustained by his future actions, we shall feel it our duty to plead his cause, and we are confident that all patriotic men of every party will approve this determination.

" We have a habit of sometimes saying what we think bluntly. We believe the truth should be told on all occasions with bluntness of speech, and this is the custom of the honest advocates of truth the world over. We may not abandon this habit now, but if we should unfor- tunately offend any of our readers in this particular, while conducting the Plaindealer, we bespeak their patience, and trust they will attribute it to our sincerity in the advocacy of our own opinions, and not to any design on our part to offend those who may honestly differ with us as to the current questions of the day."

Mr Pratt did, as he anticipated, speak the truth bluntly, and his opposition to the Repub- lican party was always vigorous. The new Plaindealer reached a greater circulation, and was a more profitable concern than the old one, which prestige was retained until Mr. Pratt's death in 1874. It was continued for a time by the administrator, and then sold to parties who disposed of the material and discontinued the paper, its good will, subscription list and appurtenances falling to the possession of the present Waukesha Democrat, in 1876.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Waukesha County Democrat .- This paper, as it exists to-day, is not, and never was, the successor, legitimately, of the first local paper in the county, started by George Hyer, under the same name. Its first material was that on which C. C. White and S. A. Bean printed the Independent Press, a Whig paper. Late in March, 1854, they sold to Dominick Casey and P. H. Carney, who at once began the publication of a thrifty, straight-ont Democratic newspa- per. Mr. Carney had but little to do with the paper until 1856, when he became sole editor and publisher, and during the next ten years it was the only permanent Democratic newspaper in the county. In 1865, Mr. Carney sold the Democrat to J. B. Hunt, since deceased, who very shortly afterward sold to Alexander F. Pratt. It then became the Plaindealer, and there was no Democrat published until January, 1872, when E. L. Spencer and J. A. Gaynor were induced by a large faction of the Democratic party which did not like the Plaindealer, to start a new paper under the old name of Waukesha County Democrat, which they did. It was a successful newspaper from the beginning, and has always maintained a leading position among the Democratic weeklies of the State. In 1874, Mr. Gaynor sold his interest in the establish- ment to Mr. Spencer, who continued to be editor and proprietor, purchasing, in 1876, all the inaterial, subscription list and good will of the Plaindealer. The valuable portions of the two were used to make a better office and publish a better paper, while the balance was disposed of to the type foundries. Very early in 1877, the Democrat passed from Mr. Spencer to P. H. Carney, who had been its editor, in earlier days, during about a dozen years. He was there- after editor and proprietor until April, 1879, when F. A. Eastman, ex-Postmaster of Chicago, and a writer of rare culture and ability, purchased the establishment and became, and continues to be, sole editor and proprietor. The paper is clean, dignified and scholarly ; a means of instruction as well as a medium for the dissemination of news. It deals briefly but ably with national and State affairs, devoting its attention and space mainly to local matters. The theory of its editor is that a local newspaper should do all within its power to advance the interests of the locality in which it is published. believing that the two are mutually dependent upon each other for prosperity. The Democrat is a nine-column folio newspaper, published every Satur- day at $2 per annum, with the usual deduction of 50 cents for advance payment. Its motto is : " Devoted to Democratic principles and to the local interests of all the people."

Waukesha Freeman .- The first number of the Waukesha Freeman was published on March 29, 1859, as a seven-column folio, by M. Cullaton, who had. during the preceding year, disposed of his interest in the Beaver Dam Citizen, with the intention of leaving the newspaper business entirely. His predilections toward journalism, however, induced him to return to the field and start a paper at Waukesha-occupying rooms for that purpose in Aitkins' Block, whence he removed to Barnes' Block, now owned by Charles Cork, August 7. He furnished a good newspaper during the six months of his management of the Freeman. On the 27th of Sep- tember, he published his valedictory, having disposed of the journal to L. B. Wright. The last- named gentleman was not a fiery writer, but a cool, industrious business man, with a good knowledge of printing. He gave his patrons the news in readable shape, was careful and pru- dent, and usually found on the right side of all public questions coming before the people dur- ing his editorial administration. April 7, 1863, Mr. Wright removed his office from the Barnes Block to the Alexander Block (now a part of the Opera House Block), which had just been com- pleted. He added to the printing facilities of the office from time to time, enlarged the paper to an eight-column folio and accumulated money, investing it in real estate, with the intention of retiring from business as soon as practicable. In pursuance of this purpose, he sold a half-interest in the paper to T. B. Reid, now United States Consul at Funchal, Madeira Islands, in November 1867, and in November, 1868, he disposed of his remaining interest to Nicholas Smith, the pres- ent editor of the Janesville Gazette. The paper was conducted by this firm until August 18, 1869, when Mr. Reid retired and left Mr. Smith as the sole proprietor and editor. In May, 1870, Mr. Smith disposed of a half-interest to T. W. Haight, who purchased the remaining half a few weeks later, and removed the establishment to Robinson's Block. During the same year, the paper was enlarged to a seven-column quarto, and a new Fairhaven press, the first power

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

press brought to the county, was made to take the place of the old Washington hand-press that had done duty since the founding of the paper. New type and a new job press were also added. The editorial management of the Freeman at this time was more marked for the ability exhib- ited than at any previous date, while the business was very prosperous. While editor of the Freeman, Mr. Haight did a great deal to acquaint the citizens with the geology of the locality, and briefly with its history. On the 1st of February, 1872, H. M. Youmans, the present pro- prietor, purchased a half-interest in the Freeman, and, shortly after, the publication office was changed to the AEtna Block. January 1, 1874, the size of the paper was changed to a seven- column folio, accompanied by a reduction in price from $2 to $1.50 a year.

Messrs. Haight & Youmans published the Freeman for two years and eight months, the first-named member of the firm taking charge of the publication and editorial work, and the latter superintending the mechanical department. This arrangement was continued until Sep- tember 24, 1874, when Mr. Haight sold his interest to his partner, although he has since been a frequent contributor to its editorial and local columns.

On January 1, 1875, the Freeman was enlarged to eight columns to the page, was supplied with a new dress of type, and made to pay largely during the year, so that early in 1876 the proprietor was enabled to add to the facilities of the office, a new Cottrell & Babcock cylinder press, a large-sized job press, together with steam power, all of which had been found necessary in order to keep pace with the largely increased demands upon the business, caused principally by a wonderful growth in the mineral-water trade of Waukesha. The intervening time up to 1879 witnessed an increase of patronage and prosperity beyond that usually enjoyed by country newspapers, being such at the opening of the above-mentioned year, that Mr. Youmans determined to erect a building for the accommodation of his business. Accordingly, a lot 20x66 feet in the business center of the village, on Grand avenue, was purchased for $800. Early in March ground was broken, and on June 1, 1879, the new building, a handsome brick structure, 20x60 feet, was occupied. Simultaneously with the occupation of the new office the form of the paper was changed to a quarto, six columns to the page, and an entire new outfit of type was supplied. Following the large expenditure was an increase of business, which is gradually extending, accompanied by a corresponding increase of influence among the best classes of citi- zens in Waukesha County. The Freeman has ever been prominent in the discussion of all subjects of local importance, and has constantly labored for the advancement of the best interests of society ; especially has it been an important factor in the furtherance of the summer resort interests of the entire county, at all times devoting space to the publication of such matters as are likely to attract the attention of health and pleasure seekers.

The Freeman was established as a Republican journal, the principles of that party being at all times maintained, though censure has been unsparingly bestowed upon its representatives whenever facts warranted it, or justice demanded it. By this course it has secured that respect which is ever due to a determined adherence to principle and right. In this paper the name of the American Freeman, the first newspaper in the county, is perpetuated.

Oconomowoc Free Press, Badger, La Belle Mirror, and Times .- It may be always safely predicted of a town, that when its papers cease to flourish, the place ceases to grow to any material extent not only, but falls into a sort of rut in opinion and development, from which, too often, it never diverges. Fortunately for Oconomowoc, its founder and a majority of its first settlers were so irrepressible, that its future was insured from the first. Year after year, in the rapid march of their progress, brought successive improvements until at last a want arose that only the newspaper could satisfy. No sooner was this want apparent than there were willing hands, purses and brains ready to supply the necessity. Accordingly, during the first week of October, 1858, the first paper, the Oconomowoc Free Press, was established and published by D. W. Small and John S. Rockwell, as editors and proprietors. A Washington hand-press, a small job press and other furniture made throughout as complete a newspaper office as was then generally found, and costing about $1,400; the office was in a frame build- ing that stood nearly opposite the mill, on the ground where Mr. Lalerberg subsequently built

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

his first hardware store. They had two printers, Abram Small and William Messenger. The politics of the paper were then Democratic, but the chief object which the publishers had in view was the promotion of the general interest of the village without regard to parties or party differences; and that they did much in this direction may be readily believed, for in a very few years after this it began to be noised abroad that Oconomowoc was a splendid place for fine scenery and rare fishing and hunting, as well as the needed accessories of excellent water and good climate. After running the paper for a time, Messrs. Small & Rockwell leased the estab- lishment to D. S. Curtis, who continued to publish the paper until the great Rebellion de- manded men, then he laid aside his "pencil and stick " for a position among the boys in blue. From 1862 until 1866 the village had no paper. During that year, the office was purchased of Small & Rockwell by Thomas Reid, who had his office in the old oil-mill building. He bought the whole outfit for $500. The paper, its name having been changed to the Badger State, was conducted by Reid & Brother until about 1867, when it passed into the hands of Dr. E. J. Benjamin. It had been enlarged and the politics changed from Democratic to Republican. Benjamin sold the paper and good will of the business to Lawren Edwards & Co., after running it until 1869. Edwards & Co. changed the name of the publication to the La Belle Mirror. Very soon after they sold to Alexander McGregor and D. H. Sumner, the latter assuming editorial control for a short time. He was succeeded in the management of the paper by Mr. McGregor, continuing its publication until 1870.

In August, 1870, Ashley D. Harger purchased the Mirror and published his first number on the 6th inst. of the latter month. In his salutatory he said, among many other beautifully worded sentiments and expressed intentions : "In politics we bid for the Republican party, be- lieve in the men and measures that crushed the Rebellion and saved the Government. As a consequence, we shall be guided and governed politically by the party we represent, and support their nominations to the best of our ability." How well he did this afterward appears. Au- gust 31, the paper appeared under a new name, having fairly run the gamut of different titles. It was now called the Oconomowoc Times, and continued to be published under that title until it subsided.

When Mr. Harger took charge of the paper, it was mortgaged for $800, which liability he assumed. He went to work with a will and by his industry, perseverance and eminently good qualifications as an editor, won hosts of friends from the start, and soon wielded an influ- ence throughout the surrounding country of no small magnitude. He apparently was not satisfied to wait patiently for the reward of industry, for, after slashing his party opponents in a masterly manner, suddenly, about the opening of the Greeley campaign, to the surprise of a majority of his patrons, the Times turned and began working with might and main the other way. Notwithstanding this change, at such a time, Mr. Harger evidently prospered. Six or eight prominent Democrats from various parts of the county, subscribed the $800 which Mr. Harger owed on the institution, and paid off the debt gratis. From this on the Times was Demo- cratic, and for a time increased in circulation very rapidly. He had at one time six men and a foreman working hard to do the business. Suddenly a loved child died ; to drown his grief he took to drinking, then his foreman died, and from that time everything went at " sixes and sevens." His friends came to the rescue ; a fund was voted by the town authorities to pay him for nominal printing, but to no purpose. Tide had turned and its flow could not be changed. After a brief but unfortunate career the Times was suspended, and Mr. Harger moved first to Watertown and then to Milwaukee. He was one of the most brilliant newspaper writers Wau- kesha County ever had.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 86

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050